Heads down

From
Malcolm Wardlaw

I have recently analysed cyclist casualties in Britain for the period 1970 to
1998 and may be able to add a few points to Justin Mullins’s article on cycle
helmets(22 July, p 16).

Research in London, where about 40 per cent of riders wear helmets, actually
shows a deterioration in safety. Does this mean a helmet will not prevent
injury? No. It means that it is unlikely that a helmet will prevent a head
injury serious enough to warrant admission to hospital.

It still makes sense to wear a helmet off-road, where there is a high risk of …